On Ice

“I’m not taking any test, if that’s what you’ve got in mind,” says Admin.

“Here’s Rebecca on where Snowhook is now. I think it’s a triumph they’re still in the race, given all the teams that have been forced to drop out.”

By the time you post on Tuesday, the team will have reached Unalakleet, the first checkpoint on the coast. The coast, the last third of the race is known for it’s weather. Count on wind. A lot wind. From this point forward, the team will travel overland and across sea ice.

Last year, parked on the ice, AJ bedded the dogs down at the Unalakleet checkpoint before heading into the building made available for mushers to rest. He needed to sleep even if for a short while. Not long after exhaustion embraced him as he slept on a cot, he was awaken by a race volunteer, “One of your dogs is loose!” Oh, no, not Whitey-Lance he thought. It wasn’t Whitey, it was Natty. A very happy girl from the first litter of the Snowhook team is petrified of one thing—ice. Blown over as it was with snow, she hadn’t realized she was resting on her foe until it cracked beneath her as she lay on straw resting with her teammates. She pulled free and headed for the buliding looking for safety—AJ. He took her back to the team, calmed her until she fell asleep. Rising slowly so as not to disturb her or the others, he headed back to the building in an exhausted fog. Before he reached the door, she reached him. Snagging his hand, she reminded him, “I’m still here. I’m still scared.”

Here, thanks to Melanie, a Google earth shot of where AJ and the team were yesterday. (Looks lonesome down there.)

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241 Responses to “On Ice”

Because of the Race, we turned on the computer before we go to the dog park.
We agree…To make it to the starting line and still be in the Race is one BIG triumph for Snowhook. They had their share of unpreventable hardships before they even got to the starting line.

Dear Plunderers – ve can all be so proud of our AJ and his team of vonderful doggies. They give him their best, every step of vay. He gives them his best every minute of time.

Ve are now on last part of journey. Has been fun messing vith other teams, but ve vill tell you von thing. Natasha’s feet are killing her. Next time vill not run race in high heel boots. Ve vill settle for being fashion diva vith vonderful hat and snow booties.

Natasha, Why don’t you wear Uggs next time. They are comfy, warm and fashionable, plus flat!

Oley, We want to thank you for putting us on to the search for the heirtage pork. We will be getting our first order 4/2 and can’t wait to try it. The woman at the local meat market even said it was better tasting. Our source is getting Certified Humane this week, and will be growing his own GMO-free corn starting this year. We stumbled on a reall winner, and only 10 miles from home. Thank you again!

Dallas is in White Mountain…my checkpoint. He was asked how it feels to be first and he said he didn’t know but knows “what it’s like to have a team that can be first….awesome!” He really compliments his dogs.

Barb and Maggie, hope you enjoy your pork as much as we do. We made a roast on Sunday and again it was delish. So much taste compared to any pork we had previously. And it is wonderful that you found yours close to home.
Now we need to focus on finding GMO-free corn also.
Bee, we think the same of Dallas. Wondering what he is really like to those who know him. We do not think that Mackey’s comment had to do with a joke or a wager.

Re: GMO corn. We read recently that at least 80-85% of the corn in the US is GMO, so most of the food that has corn in it is also GMO. I wouldn’t be surprised if Caw Caw feeds conventional corn, since that goes along more with their philosophy.

Have you noticed the ads by corn growers regarding corn sugar vs cane sugar? They say that your body doesn’t know the difference between the two. Designed to target people who read labels. They forget to mention the little part about GMOs. Deceptive I tell ya!

Bee, GMO means Genetically Modified Organism. It means scientists have altered the dna of a plant or animal for specific needs. With corn, they have altered the dna so that they can use insecticides and herbicides and the corn will still grow. Monsanto is a big supplier of this type of corn. No one really knows what the long term effect of gmos will be on animals or humans. Some people call them frankenfoods. Our theory is “Don’t mess with Mother Nature”!!

Stover, I don’t really know, but Bruce Linton is a Type I diabetic and he has run the Iditarod for several years now with that disease. We are proud of him.
Another reason may be the cost of the Iditarod. He has two little kids.

Both dogs going to vet today for regular checkups and shots (overdue). I take them in one at a time so it will be a stressful afternoon. One dog gets a sedative before going in. All I know is that I will be covered with dog hair at the end of the day (oh, and my wallet will be thinner).

C.Harris, We don’t have dog health insurance. Way back when, mom had dad help her figure out if it would be beneficial to have pet insurance. My folks decided that it would be cheaper to self-insure. In other words, put the money in savings for the dog.
Good luck to you and the dogs today.

Happy Birthday, Dan.
Harris,
Several years ago when Blou came to me, I checked out pet insurance. One study that had been done found that only 2 of 7 pet owners who had the insurance benefitted from it. With the premiums and the deductibles, and the “excludables” the author of the article suggested that you investigate very closely and in most cases avoid the insurance unless you have a chronically ill pet. I would have benefitted greatly had I got it on Blou because he had so many health problems, but I didn’t know what was coming. With Tyb I’d be throwing money away on insurance. I have a friend who calls insurance a gamble. The company is betting that you won’t need it and the client is afraid that he will. I guess life insurance doesn’t fit that idea. We’ll all need it.

We are going to get a few things done before the race gets really exciting and we go into our usual trance watching the green flags move toward Nome.
Be back in a little while.
ONWARD SNOWHOOK
We are very proud of you!

He had a great time last night. Please see picture. Today he is tired, so wants to do as much as he can. Since Zoe and I are exhausted … The PT person came today. Jesse, Zoe and I moved the computer desk (very heavy), cleaned and then I had to rebook up the computer. Snicker. So many DAMN wires.

Everything is working, got ready for Dan but that will have to wait.

I asked the grandchildren to write or call and to mention a memory with him for his birthday. I told them it needed to be a few years old. He’s better with that.

OTAS sent an email with several memories. One of which I don’t think he nor Dan ever mentioned to us. It had to do with high school, late at night, forgetting the house key, and being let in by Dan in his night attire.

The grandchildren’s emails are coming in. It’s great.

Saw that the winner will be coming into Nome today. Do we know when they will start the streaming?

Dallas is at mile 848 moving at 6.4 mph
Aliey is at mile 841 moving at 7.1 mph
5 teams at mile 840 all stopped and presumably looking at each other.
John Baker (last year’s winner) at mile 839 but travelling at 7.7 mph.
My guy mike Williams Jr. is 3 miles past that an probably out of the running.

Melanie: Dan looks great in that picture. I’m glad he had a great time!

Update: I’ve been staring at flag #38 for what seems like forever wondering why it wasn’t moving. And, then I received the answer. AJ emailed me. He is in Una, ready to go, but can not. There is a high wind advisory leaving Shaktoolik leaving too many teams parked there with not any more parking spaces for the incoming teams. If AJ moved on the dogs would be exposed once they arrived. Once teams leave Shak he is ready to move. Rumor is that it was -50 on the river. He wants to be very cautious with the dogs given the temps and the wind. He will baby them.

Glad to know what is happening – thanks Bella.
Mama took our Dad for lazer eye surgery this morning – happy to report that he is 100% fine. He didn’t even have restrictions after the surgery, so they went out for lunch.
And get this
THEY DID NOT BRING HOME A DOGGIE BAG!

Sheesh – what is this world coming to?

So Bee – did you ever get a final count on books, including the ones in kitchen and the basement?
Its interesting – books are one of the few things you can have by the thousands and no one thinks you are weird for collecting them.
Think about it – try telling someone you have 2000 pairs of s.h.o.e.s. Didn’t go well for Imelda.
Or 2000 Cabbage Patch dolls – that one was on tv last week – on one of the pop psychology “realism” shows.
We even called a halt to our “Dog Biscuits That Look Like Someone Famous” collection. Of course we get to eat the surplus.

After mushers cross the finish line times have to be calculated regarding starting times don’t they? Dallas Seavey is bib 34 (9 dogs left) and Ally is bib 14 (10 dogs left). So there were 20 mushers in between them at the start with Ally starting whatever it is in minutes before Dallas.

Stover, They have already adjusted the starting times so that won’t be a consideration at the finish line.

When the live streaming begins of the finish, the Iditarod will have it up big and bold on their website. They should also send Insiders an email. If they do like they have in the past, they will start the streaming long before the winner actually reaches the burled arch. At least, it has always seemed like a long time.

B: The time differences are converted when teams take their 24 hour layover. Only the last musher to leave has a true 24 hour layover, all teams before him had time added to their 24. AJ had to rest a little over 25 hours before he could leave the checkpoint. Once the 24’s are taken, it is whoever reaches the finish line first is the winner.

SiberH: You are right. I am relieved to know why he was still sitting in Unalakleet. It is better to safe than sorry. I know he is having leader trouble. Annabelle is content to run swing, the position just behind lead, in her advancing age. Lousia Mae is a yearling and learning what it means to be a lead dog. Elim needs a strong leader to run next to, and AJ will want to give Quig and Twig a mental and physical rest from the job. Rory would have been in lead. He’ll work through it. He will to his best with the race he has in front of him even if it isn’t the race we originally planned.

Rebecca, That seems to be often the case…the Iditarod becomes a different race than what the musher had planned. It is one of those things that makes the Iditarod, well, the Iditarod.
AJ is doing fine and we are all very proud of him and the dogs, as I know you are.

SiberH: I saw that another musher scratched. He is one of the few mushers that is tall like AJ.

I’m trying to figure out when to head to Nome. No flights are available for Thursday, the day I’d like to go. There is a flight tomorrow that puts me there very early or a flight on Friday that may cut it close—everything is up in the air because of the delay in Shak. I’m glad I made those blankets for the dogs—who cares what they look like? 😉

We are back!
SnowBella: Thank you for the update on AJ and Team Snowhook. The very highest priority here is for the Giant and his team to be safe. Nothing else matters…not race standing…nothing else… only that he will arrive in Nome with the team safely.
We are so proud of him!!!

C.Harris: We were told pet insurance could only be purchased for younger animals. The companies obviously don’t want to be stuck paying out on preexisting conditions.

Rio: Dan’s card…another puurfect birthday wish.
B: And perhaps to know another person by the books they read.
Rose: Your post of what Snowhook means to you was beautiful. You have expressed so well what is in all our hearts.
Melanie: A very nice photo of Dan happily contemplating the enjoyment of his cake.
T.C. We can’t blame the officals for the weather (can we?)

Thank Kat the finish in Nome will occur at a reasonable hour. For us here in the western part of the U.S. anyway. Sorry for the rest who can’t be awake, but thankfully it will be on video tomorrow morning.
We are sorry too for the cold temperatures and windy conditions on the coast…not something Weatherkat had any say about, and as you know this is normal for Unalakleet.

The Iditarod should get the info up on their website about what is happening in Unalakleet. Race fans all over the world are folowing Gypsy and are wondering what is going on. Thank dog, we have Rebecca to tell us.

Bella – do you think the folks who are stuck in Unalakleet get to take advantage of the stall time and gert some extra sleep? Or are they so ready to head out that they are amped up and waiting for a go signal?

Bella: It is my understanding that AJ is waiting in Unalakleet until the Trail Traffic Controllers advise a spot is availabe for him at the next (our Kat’s) checkpoint. Do you know if he will be resting in Shaktoolik or continuing on to Koyuk which is Beau and Rio’s friend’s checkpoint?

T&G: The extended stay does give extended rest, and depending on the team some might enjoy the extra rest while others are ready to hit to road. A disadvantage is that teams that arrived after AJ may stay on their rest scheduled depending on when teams get the all clear to move along. It is likely that we will see teams travel together more so now than before for safety. If AJ is having difficulty with leaders he may follow another team.

As a former insurance agent, Barb has never bought pet medical insurance. Always thought it was better to self insure, however if you have a breed that is prone to torn ACLs and that kind of surgery, it might be benificial.

SiberH: My travels on the coast are limited, but what I remember of Shak is wind, day and night.

BStover: I don’t think they’re not being allowed to move; AJ said that officials were strongly recommending to stay put. It’s just part of the race. Years ago when AJ was doing a 300 mile qualifying race, he stopped to snack the dogs in the final stretch. A team passed him. When AJ got going not long after he was caught in a ground blizzard; the team that passed him never saw the blizzard. AJ came in 3rd, 35 minutes after 2nd place.

After AJ’s ear was frostbitten, part of the lobe eventually lost, I saved up and bought him an insulated balaclava. I hope he’s wearing it.

Hey, y’all! I’m finally here! Mom says it’s strange to get home and have Dad here (instead of at practice), plus it’s still light out! It feels like spring! Too bad AJ doesn’t have conditions like this. He’d be in Nome in no time!!!

Something very strange happened here today. Everybody was barking and yapping and just making racket. I threw my head back and wooooooooed. Dad thought it was mom joining in the melee but it was me me me howling like a husky. I was so proud, sniff. Mom saw it an told me that I looked just like the windows on Snowhook’s dog truck. BTW how do the doggies get home? Hitchhike? Steamship? Trans-Siberian railway?(oops, no, wrong way)

Melanie: I forgot about the sled needing snow. Perhaps AJ could put some wheels on?

BTW, in between Iditarod updates, could everyone root for my Iowa Hawkeyes? They’re playing right now in the NIT basketball tournament — it’s not quite the NCAA tournament, but it’s the first post-season play we’ve had in quite a few years. Right now it’s halftime, and we’re leading Dayton 44-41.

Steves even..which brings up a point. Are she and Bob going to come in to Nome holding hands? Seems a shame to give the red lantern to one or the other. I would love to hear their stories. Jan is mom’s hero.

Barb&Magpie: Lots of wind and rain yesterday…power out for a couple of hours in the am. Today not much rain, but a bitterly cold wind blowing in from the north.

Macy: Woooooo! So proud of the Husky howl!

About Dallas & Lance: If we have our facts straight(?)…Seems to me there was something said earlier in the race about Seavey having some of Mackey’s dogs that were not considered good enough for his team.
It does seem apparent…that unless the unforeseen occurs…Dallas Seavy will reach Nome first.

Macy: Dogs that are dropped before Unalakleet are shipped back to Anchorage via Iditarod Airforce—volunteer bush piolts. Dogs that are droppedfrom Unalakleet on are sent to Nome via the Iditarod Airforce. We are responsible for getting all our dogs home from Nome. I’ve been trying to coordinate and price shipping today. I will drop off crates tomorrow to the air cargo hangar and they will be shipped to Nome. Before AJ arrives in Nome, I will do my best to schedule the dogs’ return trip so they can be sent home as soon as possible. Handler Jeremy will pick them up.

B&M: My flight is for tomorrow afternoon. I keep checking to see if anything opens up tomorrow—nothing. I’m trying to decide if a Friday flight would be better and not too late. If I arrive too early, I need to find housing. If I can’t find housing, I will resort to plan B, the same plan B that I had last year when I had the feeling that we would be homeless in Nome (which we were)—go to a bar, sit on a bar stool and sip a Diet Coke until it closes and then find some place that opens early and sit there until the community center opens.

I don’t think the comments about dogs not being good enough for his team are now passing him by was meant for Dallas. Lance has a handler in the race, Braxton that at one point in the race did pass him but has since fallen behind his boss.

Rebecca: It sure does seem to me that they should have a place for mushers’ families to bunk since your schedule is so iffy! I would think even some cots in a local school gymnasium (or maybe a church basement) would be a welcome home-away-from-home for those of you who are trying to coordinate your arrival with your unpredictable loved ones!

Go AJ! Sounds like he’s having to do alot of lead dog training in this race. W’re sure he expected that since he lost several dogs to injury and illness before the race even started. Rebecca, even though everyone is saying it over and over, please believe us when we say that we are so proud of AJ and Snowhook!! This had been such a fantastic experience being so involved in the race! Virtual high fives to AJ and the team!

Back from my second vet trip: $350 for 4 shots and 1 blood panel. Vet suspects Lady might have Cushings which means more tests and “costly treatment” (his words). He will call me tomorrow. The only symptom I noticed was that she is very thirsty so I make sure there is lots of water around. Anyone experienced with this out there?

P.S. Even with a sedative, Lady had to be muzzled. With rescue dogs one never knows their background but this is the first dog I’ve had who has had to be tranquilized and muzzled at the vet (I got her when she was 2 and she is 13 now and she has had 3 vets in her life). Also, isn’t it interesting what names people give their pets–I met a Zeus, Jaguar and Boy today.

Creator – thank you for the open skies and the beautiful waters and the healing earth around us. Thank you for the sight of a magnificent hawk dancing on the air currents high above us. Thank you for the sight of the mother bear and her child, ambling through the woods on a spring day. Thank you for these reminders that we are as we are meant to be.

Creator – we ask you to give to us that spirit of the animal world that allows them to be content within themselves. The hawk, as he soars through the air does not long to be an eagle, and to be greater than he is. He does not envy the eagle for his size, nor does he feel any less by comparrison. He is Hawk, and he is as he is, and is honored for that.

The bear, as she walks the path with her cub does not look at the deer and wish to be able to run as swiftly. She does not envy the moose for his antlers nor does she scorn the chipmunk for being tiny and timid. She is with herself, and knows herself and lives each day as a bear. She is Bear and is honored for that.

Creator – we ask you to give us that same acceptance of ourselves. As long as humans have been on your earth, they have envied those they think more fortunate. They have pitied those they think are less. They have scorned those that are different.

Creator – we need to learn from the spirit of the animals. Each of us are unique and by your hand, each of us are wonderful. There is no other that is like each one. While one may be wealthy or beautiful, they may hold in their soul a sadness or pain. While one may be humble and meek, within them may be a greatness waiting to be seen.

It is only humans who find fault with themselves for not being what they see in others.

Creator – help us to look at the greatness each one of us has, and help us to live up to it. We know that you do not love us or judge us for being less than an eagle, or more than a bear. You love us and judge us when we live in honor. Let us learn to judge ourselves only in that same way.

Creator – we may look at the hawk and delight in his freedom. We can look at the bear and admire her power. It may be that it will be our path for those things to come to us. But let us always look at ourselves and know that we are who we are meant to be.

Creator – we know that AJ has lived and worked in an honorable way. There have been obstacles in his path, there have been hardships and heartaches. We ask you to help him see that his greatness is not judged by the finish lines or riches, but by goodness of his spirit, the gentleness of his soul, the loyalty he inspires in those who believe in him.

We ask you to watch over AJ and the team for the rest of their run. Let them live for the happiness of being themselves, of running together and caring for each other. We ask you to make AJ’s heart smile and be content in knowing that he is an honorable man

Creator – we thank you for the open skies and the beautiful waters and the healing earth. Thank you for the sight of the redtail hawk dancing on the air currents. Thank you for the sight of the mother bear and her child, ambling through the woods on a spring day. Thank you for these reminders that we are as we are meant to be.

KirbyT: When we signed up for Iditarod, we signed up for housing. Local residents open their homes to mushers +1. Last year we signed up for housing. When I arrived in Nome, I was told that they didn’t have us on the housing list. I had a feeling this was going to happen so I packed light. Whatever was in my backpack was my home. When AJ arrived in Nome we asked after housing again. We were told there was a set of bunk beds available. We were grateful for a place to stay. The gentleman was very kind, but the bunk beds were about 2/3 the size of a normal bed and the room was about the size of our bathroom—difficult for two people with all of AJs gear to move around. The next day, I noticed a flier at the community center that said there was a vacancy at a motel. It was in our price range so we jumped on it. This was better for all involved. AJ and I were still on race schedule and waking at all hours of the night and a bit disoriented. There was another musher that signed up for housing, but was told the same thing we were told. He took sleeping in his sled in the dog lot until he was kicked out. After being on the trail, AJ said he’d prefer to have a space of our own if we could swing it; I ear marked the money from our t-shirt and hoodies that we sold for this purpose. I’d prefer to be frugal with that little next egg in case something comes up.

Pop had a horse with cushings. It made him have very long curly hair. It is a thyroid issue, and they couldn’t keep weight on him. They measured his urine for ph or something. It has been a long time. We will try to remember more.

Dawson: I think Gypsy caught AJ on a downhill when you saw the fast speed, then I think it caught him on an uphill.

A group of mushers went out right after AJ left Una. It is wise to use the buddy system if the conditions are bad. I always feel better when AJ is around, I don’t know why others wouldn’t feel the same. 🙂

C Harris, you were talking about dog names. A friend of ours got her dog from a man who had English Shepherds since the 60’s. Every dog he had was named Queen or Lady. He always had one female and he alternated the two names!

G&B: To be more percise, but not much more, as of the last update he has 9 miles to go. I’m not sure his average speed, but his current speed is just over 6mph. I think it’s going to be closer to 7pm (AK time) rather than 6pm. When you train dogs, you train for an average speed of 10 usually, yet as dogs and mushers fatigure the time slows. The speed is also impacted by terrain, weather, number of dogs, the weight of the sled, etc.

Wolfie, My above post was meant for the Howlers, not you.
Well, maybe no pets in heaven would be good as long as there are animals. Everyone would be free to do their own thing. Huskies roaming wherever they wanted to with no worry of harm coming to them. Horses running free. We could interact with the animals as equals.
just a thought

Live!…grump!…We tried to watch the LIVE, but all we saw was a black screen and all we heard were the inane announcers going on and on and then it froze up every thing else we had open on This Old Computer…heh!…So we got out of everything and brought Chets blog back up and now I am at the mercy of SiberH telling me what is going on…grunt!…Next year my friend says we are NOT PAYING FOR THE INSIDER BULLCRAP!…grunt!…But next year we might have a new computer and it might be worth it…wuffle!sniff!…Help me SiberH!

Rio, Sorry I wasn’t here till now. My computer won’t always handle something like the blog and a live stream at the same time. You are really not missing anything. Dallas won but it was the usual long wait for him to arrive in Nome. Aliy will be coming in second place, but the Insider only covers the winner live. We can see all the others on video. We will get to see AJ on video if the do it like they always have in the past.

Finally, we saw Dallas come in and win it. Very neat that he went and thanked each of his dogs before talking to the humans. Very cool. He seems like a great guy. We like how they are talking about the race as a sport. Don’t think we’ll make it watching anymore tonight.

Hi everyone, a late hello as it takes forever to get through so much on the blog each day. Rebecca, as always, your stories make me go ‘then what happened???’ Poor Natty, afraid of ice – husky problems are so different to the run of the mill stuff that spooks Cricket (currently it’s our local hot air balloon festival).

Sibes, Cricket would so hate to be where you are, i’ve seen pictures of those balloon gatherings you have – ours is teeny by comparison.

Dawson, i hope AJ snuck her inside! NB i brought your toffee to the office to share around and everyone asked for the recipe – that never happened before when i made it! You must have the true Wolfie touch. Hi Wolfie!

Siber-H: eons ago I was driving cross country from California to Kentucky. As I neared New Mexico, my friend and I thought we were hallucinating because we were seeing polka dots in the distant sky. That was my first experience with the hot-air balloon festival.

Grump! I missed AJ getting into Shak. In preparation for heading to Nome tomorrow I had to go to town to do laundry and run other race related errands. I just got home a few moments ago.

Since I can’t get a flight for Thursday, I decided to go early rather than arrive on Friday night and risk missing the team come up Front Street. I may be overly cautious, but I’d hate to miss the finish.

Macy: You better be careful—if you keep howling like a husky, AJ just might put you in harness.

As I’m waiting for flag #38 to move, I thought I would take a moment and tell the Plunderers how much I appreciate each of you. You have been a support to me this race in ways you don’t understand. The loss of Rory feels like the oxygen has been taken from my lungs, and I’ve had a hard time focusing on much of anything let alone writing as I usually do during the race. You’ve made me laugh, you’ve reminded me of what is important, you have made me feel less alone in AJ’s absence, less alone in grief. Thank you.

Howlers: Good morning! The Plunderers have reminded me of the positives especially when I most wanted to just retreat in solitude and for that I thank you and am grateful for you.

AJ is on the move from the Kat’s Meow checkpoint. He dropped a dog before leaving. I have no idea who or why? Maybe a leader?—He said he was having leader trouble? Or, and unproven member that stepped up at the last minute? Who knows?—Either way they are loved.

My flight leaves shortly after 5 this evening which is good because I have a lot to do before then. My goal is to snag a few hours of sleep at some point, too.

If I’m not mistaken, dogs that are dropped from Unalakleet on are sent to Nome. Last year, I waited and waited for the call to pick Frank up from the correctional facility. It never came. I figured that they dropped dog coordinator would contact Handler Jeremy while I was in Nome. Once we left the finish line and were directed where to park in the dog lot, there was Frank pouncing on each of his mates as they passed by into our spot.

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